United States Court of Federal Claims, 2022

Ferguson v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

United States Court of Federal Claims · Decided May 13, 2022 · Brian H. Corcoran

Opinion

In the United States Court of Federal Claims

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 20-1757V UNPUBLISHED

JOSEPH FERGUSON, Chief Special Master Corcoran

Petitioner, Filed: March 31, 2022 v.

Special Processing Unit (SPU); SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND Ruling on Entitlement; Concession; HUMAN SERVICES, Table Injury; Influenza (Flu) Vaccine;

Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Respondent. Administration (SIRVA)

Paul R. Brazil, Muller Brazil, LLP, Dresher, PA, for Petitioner.

Lauren Kells, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

RULING ON ENTITLEMENT1

On December 3, 2020, Joseph Ferguson filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. §300aa-10, et seq.2 (the “Vaccine Act”). Petitioner alleges that that he suffered a left shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”) as a result of an influenza vaccine received on January 14, 2020. Petition at 1. Petitioner further alleges that the vaccine was received in the United States, his SIRVA symptoms persisted for more than six months, and neither Petitioner nor any other party has ever filed an action, or received compensation in the form of an award or settlement, for his vaccine-related injury. Petition at ¶¶ 1, 5-7; Ex. 4 at 46. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

On March 30, 2022, Respondent filed his Rule 4(c) report in which he concedes that Petitioner is entitled to compensation in this case. Respondent’s Rule 4(c) Report at 1. Specifically, Respondent agrees that “petitioner has satisfied the criteria set forth in the Vaccine Injury Table (Table) and the Qualifications and Aids to Interpretation (QAI): petitioner had no contributory history of pain, inflammation or dysfunction in his left shoulder; his pain and reduced range of motion occurred within 48 hours of receipt of an intramuscular vaccination; his symptoms were limited to the shoulder in which the vaccine was administered; and no other condition or abnormality was identified to adequately explain his symptoms.” Id. at 4.

In view of Respondent’s position and the evidence of record, I find that Petitioner is entitled to compensation.

IT IS SO ORDERED. s/Brian H. Corcoran Brian H. Corcoran Chief Special Master

1 Because this unpublished Ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am required to post it on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website in accordance with the E-Government Act of 2002. 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2012) (Federal Management and Promotion of Electronic Government Services). This means the Ruling will be available to anyone with access to the internet. In accordance with Vaccine Rule 18(b), Petitioner has 14 days to identify and move to redact medical or other information, the disclosure of which would constitute an unwarranted invasion of privacy. If, upon review, I agree that the identified material fits within this definition, I will redact such material from public access. 2 National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755. Hereinafter, for ease of citation, all section references to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. § 300aa (2012).

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